How to Fix the Uh-Oh Moment

Recently I had a conversation with Sarah Higbee (@sjhigbee) about planning. I’ve made it clear before that I am an obsessive planner. I have to outline the plot, the subplots, the character arcs, the whole shebang before I even think to write. And while for those organized folks out there, this style would work, for someone like Sarah, who prefers to go into writing and see where it takes her, plotting out each step isn’t on the to-do list.

Of course everyone has their own style of writing and their own system of how to approach the daunting undertaking. No matter what your technique, at some point we all face a speed-bump. A moment where you say, “Uh-Oh, that wasn’t supposed to happen.” I’ve found there are five extremely common events that prompt this saying, and I’m going to show you the four fixes for your flub.

Uh-Oh Moment: Out of Character
Fix: If you’ve noticed one of your characters is behaving in a way that is contrary to their fundamental personality, you have to weigh the situation. Is this behavior caused by a traumatic incident? Or is it plain wrong? If you feel the OOC is the effect of a benchmark in the story, keep it. If it just doesn’t fit you must edit it out.

Uh-Oh Moment: Unexpected Plot Twist
Fix: For us planners, this may be a striking surprise. When your writing takes over and steers the plot in another direction, it’s not always a bad thing. I actually find this moment endearing. It’s as if your novel is telling you what you had planned is OK, but this will be awesome.

Uh-Oh Moment: Dead End
Fix: Akin to Writer’s Block, this affliction occurs when you accidentally pen your characters into a dead end. Either literally or figuratively. Readers enjoy sudden changes, so writing an escape route or a piano falling from nowhere to stir the pot is one way to get the train back on track.

Uh-Oh Moment: Unexpected Romance
Fix: Even if this subplot was known to you throughout writing, sometimes characters just grow together. Admit it, at some point, your little darlings take on a life of their own. And they may begin to choose someone you hadn’t intended. That’s ok. As Rafiki says, “You can either run from it, or learn from it.”

Each problem has its own solution, but as a general rule of thumb, go with 3 A’s: Assess it. Address it. Alter or Accept it.

When you come across an “Uh-Oh” moment, don’t fret. It happens to amateurs and professionals alike. No one is immune. First, take the time to understand what type of problem lies before you and how it needs to be approached. Acknowledge your writing is trying to tell you something and it doesn’t necessarily have to be a negative comment. You can fix it if you so choose, but sometimes the unexpected shock is exactly what your writing needed.

What was your biggest “Uh-Oh” moment and how did you resolve it?